March 17 in Music History: Grateful Dead release their debut, Ray Davies receives his CBE

1957 – Elvis Presley buys the Graceland mansion from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500. The 23-room, 10,000 square foot home on 13.8 acres of land is expanded to 17,552 square feet of living space before the King moves in a few weeks later. The original building had at one time been used as a place of worship by the Graceland Christian Church and was named after the builder’s daughter, Grace Toof.

1962 – Billboard reports that Ray Charles had started Tangerine, his own record label.

1967 – The Grateful Dead release their self-titled, debut album.

1967 – The Beatles finish recording “She’s Leaving Home” at Abbey Road studios in London after adding backing vocals. Harpist Sheila Bromberg, who is part of the string section on the track, becomes the first woman to play on a Beatles recording.

1978 – The Irish high school band U2, whom had recently changed their name from The Hype, win the Limerick Civic Week Pop ’78 talent competition. They earn about $1,000 and a chance to record a demo for CBS Records.

1978 – Elvis Costello & the Attractions release This Year’s Model.

1992 – k.d. lang releases Ingénue.

1998 – Mick Fleetwood joins The Corrs onstage for a St. Patrick’s Day performance at Royal Albert Hall in London. Their performance of the Fleetwood Mac song “Dreams” is released as a single and becomes the first hit for The Corrs.

1999 – Sinead O’Connor records the first ever single via the Internet in a BBC studio as part of the Tomorrow’s World program. The song is a cover of Bob Marley’s “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)” recorded for the War Child charity.

2004 – The Kinks singer Ray Davies receives his CBE medal from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to the music industry.

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Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH